Preparation for coloring hair



Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE wald, New York, N. Thill, New York, N.

Y., assignors to Victor J. Y.

No Drawing. Application April 25, 1932 Serial No. 607,500

17 Claims.

This invention relates to preparations for CO1- oring hair, and particularly to non-irritating compositionsadapted to develop the desired color when applied to the hair.

5 Numerous compositions for coloring hair have been used heretofore. Most of these include organic dyes or compounds of lead or other metals which are highly toxic even in external applications. Lead compounds in particular have been employed as the basis of hair dyes, and numerous instances of poisoning resulting from the use thereof are of record.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a coloring preparation which readily acl5 complishes the desired result when applied to the hair and is non-irritating and harmless.

The invention depends upon the use of soluble bismuth compounds which are capable of reacting to form bismuth sulphide, such as bismuth nitrate or chloride, together with a sulphur-containing compound adapted to react with the bismuth. As a reacting agent, a thiosulphate of an alkali metal is suitable, although other sulphur-containing compounds may be 26 used.

When bismuth and thiosulphate compounds are mixed in water solution, the reaction is comparatively rapid, and bismuth sulphide is precipitated from the solution. It is not, therefore,

30 practicable to mix these materials for any considerable time before application to the hair. Furthermore, bismuth compounds hydrolyze readily in water solutions, forming, in the case of the nitrate, a subnitrate which precipitates from solution.

It is, however, possible to avoid hydrolysis by including a considerable proportion of a suitable anti-hydrolytic agent in the solution. Glycerin is a suitable agent for the purpose, but

glycol and glucose solutions may be used. The

anti-hydrolytic agent affords the further advantage that the reaction is retarded, thus afiording an opportunity to distribute the composition evenly over the hair before any considerable proportion of the bismuth is precipitated.

In carrying out the invention, we provide two solutions which are kept in separate containers. One consists of the bismuth compound, such as the nitrate, with an anti-hydrolytic agent such as glycerin and a small proportion of water. The other consists of the sulphur-containing material, such as an alkali metal thiosulphate, in water solution and preferably containing an anti-hydrolytic agent such as glycerin.

When the color is to be applied, small amounts of the two solutions are mixed, and the mixture is distributed evenly over the hair to be colored. The reaction slowly develops the color on the hair. The color will vary somewhat depending upon the proportion of the ingredients, which may be odified to meet the requirements.

As an example of the invention, satisfactory solutions may be prepared by dissolving 80 grams of bismuth nitrate in a liter of solution containing glycerin and 20% water by volume, and by similarly dissolving 170 grams of sodium thiosulphate in a liter of solution containing 80% glycerin and 20% water-by volume.

The two solutions are stored in separate con- 7 tainers and are mixed just before the hair is to be treated. The mixed solutions are distributed evenly over the hair, and after a brief time the reaction occurs with the formation of a colored pigment which darkens the color of the 7 hair.

As another example of the invention, we prepare a solution containing the following: Glycerine 66.6 c.c. Water 33.3 c.c. Bismuth chloride 7.2 gms. Hydrochloric acid 1.7 c.c. and another solution:

Glycerine 66.6 c.c. Water 33.3 c.c. Sodium thiosulphate 15.3 gms.

The two solutions are stored in separate containers and mixed just before the hair is to be treated. The mixture is applied as in the preceding embodiment of the invention.

As hereinbefore indicated, the proportions of the ingredients employed may be varied. With increasing concentrations of thiosulphate up to between 10% and 12%, the speed of the reaction increases. After 12%, the speed of the reaction decreases. With thiosulphate up to about 12%, the color produced on the hair is reddish brown. Above 12%, the red begins to disappear and the color is a neutral brown. A darker shade is obtained by adding to the solution of bismuth compound, such as the nitrate, ammonium acetate in the proportion of about 12 grams per liter, or equivalent amounts of ammonium hydroxide and acetic acid.

The advantages of using bismuth compounds, and particularly bismuth nitrate, are that bismuth produces none of the irritating or poisonous efiects of lead. When bismuth compounds are used in a medium containing an antihydrolytic agent as described, the bismuth remains in solu tion, and consequently the preparation may be stored and used as required without loss of strength or other modification.

Various changes may be made in the details of procedure and in the composition described, without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

We claim:

1. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount suflicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound to form a coloring compound on hair capable of reacting with the bismuth compound, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

2. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount sufiicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

3. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and glycerin in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound capable of reacting with the bismuth compound to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

4. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and glycerin in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphurcontaining compound capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

5. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount sufiicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thiosulphate of an alkali metal capable of reacting with the bismuth compound to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

6. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and an antihydrolytic agent in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thio-sulphate of an alkali metal capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

'7. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and glycerin in an amount sufiicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thiosulphate of an alkali metal capable of reacting with the bismuth compound to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

8. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and glycerin in an amount sufiicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, andthe other a thiosulphate. of an alkali metal capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

9. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound to form a coloring compound on hair, capable of reacting with the bismuth compound and an anti-hydrolytic agent, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

10. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair and an anti-hydrolytic agent, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

11. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and glycerin in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound, capable of reacting with the bismuth compound to form a coloring compound on hair, and glycerin, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

12. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and glycerin in an amount sufiicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a sulphur-containing compound, capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair, and glycerin, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

13. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thiosulphate of an alkali metal capable of reacting with the bismuth compound to form a coloring compound on hair and an anti-hydrolytic agent, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

14. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and an anti-hydrolytic agent in an amount sufficient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thiosulphate of an alkali metal capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair and an anti-hydrolytic agent, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

15. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing a water soluble bismuth compound and glycerin in an amount sufiicient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thiosulphate of an alkali metal, capable of reacting with the bismuth compound to form a coloring compound on hair, and glycerin, the two solutions being adapted to be mixed prior to application to the hair.

16. A preparation for coloring hair comprising two solutions, one containing bismuth nitrate and glycerin in an amount sumcient to prevent substantial hydrolysis, and the other a thiosulphate of an alkali metal, capable of reacting with the bismuth nitrate to form a coloring compound on hair, and g y adapted hair.

water b to be mixed preparation for approximately 80% glyc y volume, and the other the m solutions being prior to application to the coloring hair comprising approximately 80 of solution conerin and 20% approximately WILLIAM B. STODDARD, JR. WILLARD F. GREENWALD. 

